Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-26 at 09:02

HEADLINES
Iranian missile strike wounds Ness Ziona dog
Jerusalem Grand Slam 2026 draws 29 countries
Mass draft protest blocks Bnei Brak roads

The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Chetz the dog from Ness Ziona was severely wounded in an Iranian missile strike during Operation Rising Lion and has spent the past year recovering with his family by his side. In June 2025, an Iranian missile struck the Levi family’s neighbors, leaving Chetz badly injured with broken limbs and shrapnel embedded in his body. The team at the University Veterinary Hospital Beit Dagan in Rishon Lezion cared for him throughout the recovery, with the lead veterinarian even bringing him home at night to supervise treatment. Chetz underwent half a dozen surgeries to remove shrapnel and repair four broken limbs. Dr. Talia Adler, the lead veterinarian, said that at first she would have given him a low chance of survival, but Chetz showed he wanted to live and fight, so the medical team gave him that chance.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the debate over Donald Trump's Iran policy and its implications for Israel remains a talking point. One analysis argues that while concerns about the nuclear program, missiles, enriched uranium, and continued sponsorship of Hezbollah and Hamas are valid, Israel's sense of betrayal reflects a belief that the move was about Israel; the author contends that American actions are driven by its own national security and Western interests rather than a single loyalty to one country. The piece notes the heated rhetoric in Israel and that the discussion centers on broader strategic questions rather than a narrow Israel-only perspective. Another analysis highlights that while the White House has sought to present a united front on the Iran issue, Vice President JD Vance criticized Israeli criticisms of the preliminary US-Iran deal, specifically on strikes in Lebanon; Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, describing it as a justified response to Hezbollah attacks. The contrast offers an early glimpse of differing worldviews within the administration and the Republican Party, revealing tensions as foreign policy voices shape the way forward on the region.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Counterprotest begins in Bnei Brak after mass traffic disruption from ultra-orthodox draft protest. Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., hundreds of protesters are expected to arrive in Bnei Brak for a demonstration against inequality in the burden of service. Participants will include reserve soldiers, active-duty soldiers, mothers of combat troops, and residents of Kfar Yona, Kfar Saba, and other cities, and the protest has been coordinated with police to take place at several locations. The main gathering point will be at the Coca-Cola Bridge, from where protesters will march on foot toward Bnei Brak. Drivers have been instructed to enter the address “Rabbi Kahaneman 120” into Waze and drive repeatedly at a slow pace until 4 p.m. A convoy of vehicles departed from a parking lot near Prison 10 in Kfar Yona toward Bnei Brak. The message accompanying the protest reads, “The convoy of draft dodgers will not disrupt the lives of citizens.”

In Uplifting News, Jerusalem Grand Slam 2026 to welcome athletes from 29 countries will bring together approximately 76 athletes from 29 countries on Thursday, June 25, at the National Stadium in Givat Ram, Jerusalem, as the city hosts one of Israel’s leading international athletics competitions. Organized with the involvement of the Jerusalem Municipality and the Israel Athletics Association, the event will feature competitors from Europe, North and South America, and Africa alongside many of Israel’s top track and field athletes. Athletes from countries including the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, Greece, Ukraine, Hungary, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Ethiopia, and Uganda are expected to participate. The program will also include a 4x100-meter relay featuring national teams from Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland. Among the Israeli competitors scheduled to take part are Blessing Afrifah, Yonatan Kapitolnik, Adva Cohen, Omri Shiff, Romi Tamir, Alina Drotman, and Mercy Afrifah, and the competition represents an opportunity to achieve qualification standards and collect ranking points ahead of the European Championships in August. Magen David Adom honors Druze paramedic on National Paramedic Day. After an accident at 16 changed her career path, Druze violinist Ghadir Saleh became an MDA paramedic and she now serves on mobile intensive care units across Israel. Saleh, from the northern Druze city of Maghar, now volunteers on MDA Mobile Intensive Care Units after completing the organization’s paramedic training program as part of her National Service. Before entering emergency medicine, Saleh pursued music, playing the violin from the age of nine and representing Israel on several international delegations. After graduating from high school, she taught violin to at-risk youth and children on the autism spectrum through the Ministry of Education. A serious accident at age 16 also influenced her decision to become a paramedic and she has since become a prominent figure within MDA. Treatment of a 2,700-year-old standing stone at Tel Eton, located east of Hebron, may provide new proof of King Hezekiah’s religious reforms, according to a new study. The stone, known also as a massebah, was discovered during excavations of the First Temple era site inside a large residence named by archaeologists as "Building 101," or the Governor's Residency. Standing at approximately 1.4 meters high and weighing 750 kilograms, the stone was set in the building’s largest room, directly opposite the entrance to remain visible to any visitor. Professor Avraham Faust of Bar-Ilan University notes the study focuses on how religious change affected everyday life and personal practice, though scholars have long debated the scope of Hezekiah’s reforms.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-900386
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-900490
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-900609
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900613
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-900614
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900610
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-900308